Gospel: Luke 6:39-42
Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind
person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you
notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in
your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that
splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own
eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will
see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
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Reflection:
In courtroom litigation before a judge gives his verdict or judgment he
sees to it that every witness from the opposing sides are heard. This assures
that whatever decision that the judge would give, is appropriate and based on
the facts of the case.
Do we not oftentimes act as judge in our own sphere of environment? For
example, a father or a mother acts as a judge when he/she gives orders to their
children not to do this and that. They also act as judge when they
admonish and give disciplinary actions to their children.
But in giving judgment or orders, do we see to it that we are worthy to
give judgment? If we are worthy of the judgment that we give then
that is very good for our orders would be followed. But what if we are not good
role models? Here the problem lies, for we are not worthy to give judgment.
The gospel tells us that before you give judgment to anyone you must see
to it first that you have the moral authority and ascendancy to give that
judgment. And how would you do this? You always have to have a self-reflection
about yourself, such as, am I a good role model? Do I follow what I tell others
to do? Well and good if you are a good role model and if you lead by example.
But what if you are not? Then, the judgment or order that you give
will simply not be heard it will simply fall on deaf ears. Therefore you have
to be a good role model. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
